Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland initially refused to comment on slogans celebrating the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel. However, after seeing video footage, she expressed shock and disgust at the antisemitism and glorification of terrorism. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemned the protest, calling it “hateful intimidation.”
Amidst the focus on Iran’s attack on Israel and the GOP’s attempt to scuttle a foreign aid package, a concerning development has emerged regarding Hamas’s uncertain knowledge of hostages seized during the October 7 attack. The group’s initial claim that it had 40 living hostages for an exchange with Israel has been cast into doubt, with fears that many more hostages may have died in captivity. The possible deaths of up to 30 hostages, including six American citizens, raise concerns about Hamas’s disregard for human life and the challenges facing negotiations for a cease-fire.
Philippine troops have killed the leader of a small Muslim rebel group and 11 of his men in a clash in the country’s south. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, led by Mohiden Animbang, had been blamed for past bombings and extortion.
An external investigation commissioned by the UN has found no evidence to support Israel’s claims that a significant number of workers for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip have ties to terrorist groups.
An investigation by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has found no evidence to support Israeli claims that hundreds of staff members are affiliated with terrorist organizations. This could lead some donor nations to reconsider funding freezes that were imposed after Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff members of participating in Hamas-led attacks in Gaza. The review, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found that Israel had not provided any supporting evidence for its claims and had not raised any concerns with UNRWA based on staff lists since 2011. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein criticized the review, saying it ignored the severity of the problem and offered cosmetic solutions. However, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said the agency was developing an action plan to take forward the recommendations from the review.
An independent review of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has concluded that Israel has not provided any evidence to support its claims that aid workers in Gaza are “terrorists.”
The report, ordered by UN Secretary-General Guterres, found some “neutrality-related issues” in the implementation of UNRWA’s programs, including public political statements by staff and “problematic content” in school textbooks. However, it emphasized that “most alleged breaches of neutrality relate to social media posts” made in the wake of violent incidents affecting colleagues or family.
The report made recommendations for improving neutrality, including through engagement with donors, staff neutrality, and the neutrality of education and governance. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has said he will accept the recommendations but warned against Israel’s “deliberate and concerted campaign” to end its operations.
An independent review of the neutrality of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) found that Israel never expressed concerns about anyone on the staff lists it has received annually since 2011. This contradicts Israel’s allegations that 12 employees participated in Hamas attacks. The review, led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, cited serious gaps in UNRWA’s implementation of neutrality principles, including staff expressing political views and textbooks with “problematic” content. Despite making 50 recommendations, Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the report insufficient and urged donor countries to withhold funding. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, welcomed the report and called on Israel to “reconsider its position and fully cooperate” with the agency.
A Russian military court has sentenced Meta spokesperson Andy Stone in absentia to six years in prison for “publicly defending terrorism.” Stone is accused of promoting extremist activity after Meta lifted a ban on calls for violence against the Russian military on its platforms. Stone has denied the charges and plans to appeal the sentence.
The head of Israel’s intelligence agency has stepped down following criticism over the agency’s failure to anticipate a series of attacks by Hamas militants that left several Israelis dead in October.
A court in Russia has sentenced a spokesperson for Meta to six years in prison in absentia for justifying terrorism. The charges stem from remarks made by Andy Stone, Meta’s communications director, in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Stone, who is based in the US, announced temporary changes to Meta’s hate speech policy to allow for ‘forms of political expression that would normally violate (its) rules, like violent speech such as ‘death to the Russian invaders.” Russian authorities opened a criminal case against Stone and other unidentified Meta employees, describing the statement as ‘illegal calls to violence and killings of Russian citizens.’ Meta was also outlawed as an extremist organization and Facebook and Instagram were blocked in Russia.
